Seriki Adionyi
Following recent hostilities against Christians across some states in the North, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has charged the Federal Government to do everything to ensure that adequate security is provided for the lives and properties of Christians in the region.
Two Christians were gruesomely murdered in Kano and Niger states for allegedly blaspheming against Prophet Mohammed, while another was injured and beaten to coma for eating during the Ramadan fasting.
Against this backdrop, the chairman of CAN in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital territory, Rev. Yakubu Pam, issued a statement in Jos yesterday, describing the circumstances under which Mrs. Bridget Agbahime and Methodus Chimaije Emmanuel were killed under religious guise in Kano and Niger states respectively as unfortunate, barbaric, and unacceptable in Nigeria.
Pam also charged the Northern Governors to brace up to their responsibilities as the chief security officers of their respective states to provide adequate security measures to the lives and properties of Christians in their states, insisting that all Nigerians have equal rights to live in any state of the federation irrespective of their religion, and to carry out their businesses lawfully without anyone causing harm to them.
He described the recent ugly incidents in Kano and Niger states as regrettable and uncivilised that should not be tolerated by people of goodwill in the country.
According to him, “the perpetrators of these evil acts must be fished out with their gangs and made to face the full wrath of the law to serve as deterrence to others.”
Pam also cautioned Northern Governors not to rush into committing parts of lands for grazing reserve or grazing route for cattle herders without going into proper consultation with the land owners in their respective states, noting that if the land owners are not properly consulted such policy may end up as counterproductive.
Calling for prayers for Nigeria, Pam said, “This period in the history of this nation calls for serious prayers and understanding among the diverse people of this country for peace to reign in all parts of the country.”
While commending the federal government for accepting to go into dialogue with the Niger Delta Avengers, the cleric stressed that through dialogue most of the crisis rocking different parts of the country could be resolved.
The cleric also urged the security agencies to sustain efforts in the North-east to bring the activities of Boko haram to an end, so that the displaced persons from the three states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa can return to their homes.
